the first place. it is thought that will probably whittle down some of the contenders already. the thinking is that they will raise that. last time it was eight, the thinking is that they could rise at 20, and that will knock some of them out to started. then there will be a series of run offs between candidates, with the aim of whittling it down to the final turn by the 21st ofjuly, when parliament rises. that goes out the conservative membership for a few weeks to decide the final winner. there are two elections, the mps here, and westminster, then the wider conservative party membership. that is about 180,000. the debate so far between the contenders is very much centred on tax. it far between the contenders is very much centred on tax. far between the contenders is very much centred on tax. it is, that has emerued much centred on tax. it is, that has emerged as much centred on tax. it is, that has emerged as a much centred on tax. it is, that has emerged as a front much cent
end of next week when parliament rises, there would be too left and they go out to the conservative membership over the summer to make the final choice of who will be conservative leader and of course therefore prime minister.- therefore prime minister. those final two will therefore prime minister. those final two will slug therefore prime minister. those final two will slug it therefore prime minister. those final two will slug it out - therefore prime minister. those final two will slug it out over i therefore prime minister. those| final two will slug it out over the summer in front of the conservative party membership. that s about 180,000 people i think roughly. they have already been slugging it out amongst themselves, all the contenders and attacks really the central issue. whether it remains the central issue but it certainly is at the beginning stage. tax. it has emerged as a major battleground and in no way that no real surprise considering who the candidates are tal
the field quickly. my colleague ben brown is live in westminster for us and we canjoin him now. thank you very much. so what do we know so far? ahead of that 1922 committee later it s thought the current crop of contenders will be whittled down to two by the end of next week when parliament breaks up for the summer with the final result not known until early september. 0nce once the wider membership has voted on the final two contenders, we will not know that until early september. until then, not know that until early september. untilthen, borisjohnson not know that until early september. until then, borisjohnson stays at number 10 downing street. robert halfon is the conservative mp for harlow and is supporting savid javid in the tory leadership hejoins me now. good to have you with us. thank you very much. sajid javid is both.
my colleague ben brown is live in westminster for us this morning and we canjoin him now. 11 so far, could be more than that, priti patel could join the race. we re live ahead of the meeting of the 1922 committee later. conservative backbenchers will be meeting today to decide the election rules, with measures to reduce the size of the field likely. it s thought the current crop of contenders will be whittled down to two by the end of next week when parliament breaks up for the summer, with the final result not known until early september. here s our political correspondent, jonathan blake. good afternoon, minister. long seen as a potential tory leader, the foreign secretary liz truss is popular
party when it has a leadership contest, inevitably there are arguments, that is the whole idea of the contest, but it could end up with blue on blue attacks, and mudslinging. how damaging is that? departed s reputation has been damaged by what has been going on so far. if in attacks they revealed further attacks, far. if in attacks they revealed furtherattacks, it far. if in attacks they revealed further attacks, it means whichever leader comes in, they have to repair the fractures and they also need to convince the electorate that the problems have gone away and there are not going to be continued scandals throughout the rest of parliament. scandals throughout the rest of parliament. ., ~ , ., , . parliament. thank you very much indeed. i parliament. thank you very much indeed- i am parliament. thank you very much indeed. i amjoined parliament. thank you very much indeed. i amjoined here - parliament. thank you very much indeed. i amjoined here at - indeed. i am joined here at we